Tamar struggled to get to Dancing with the Stars stage on Monday night after being hospitalized. Now she has announced via her Instagram, that she has to withdraw from the competition because of the same health reasons. It is more serious than pneumonia, Tamar has blood clots on both sides of her lungs. While all the respect goes to Tamar from trying her hardest to stay in Dancing with the Stars, I can’t help but feel bad for Alexa Penavega who was just eliminated from the competition. Should Dancing with the Stars bring Alexa back to fill the hole left by Tamar?
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Tamar Really Shouldn’t Have Been Dancing
Anyone who blames Tamar for Alexa’s elimination is ridiculous. Tamar had no idea her health issues were more serious than they were and she had no clue she wouldn’t be eliminated. Tamar participated in Dancing with the Stars like anyone else and she shouldn’t be penalized for it in anyone’s eyes.
With a Heavy heart I regret to inform you that my season of #dwts has to come to an end along with the rest of my tour dates with @musicbykem. After yesterday’s final #dwts performance I went back to the hospital (after the doctors didn’t want me to leave in the first place) only to find out that I don’t have pneumonia but something way more serious and that is having several P.E.’s (blood clots in both sides of my lungs) As you all know I will be the first to always encourage anyone to push through any obstacle that comes along one’s way. But in this case, my health is my current obstacle. .. And in TRUE #tamartian form I must go about this the exact same way as I would anything else. I woke up to a mirror and saw myself this morning and that makes me the winner because that almost wasn’t the case. ðŸ†Take care of yourselves… I love you and thank you ALL for your supportâ¤ï¸ p.s. Big hugs and kisses to my boo @iamvalc for being beyond a friend, brother and the BEST partner EVER😘🙌ðŸ½ðŸ™ŒðŸ¾
All that being said, Tamar really shouldn’t have shown up to Dancing with the Stars after she was in the Emergency Room. It’s admirable that she did muster up the energy and will. It was clear even after she did arrive, she was very sick. It was probably callous of the Dancing with the Stars lawyers to say if Tamar hadn’t arrived to dance, she would’ve been eliminated. It was also pretty fair. If someone is physically unable to dance, they shouldn’t take up the spot of some who is ready and able. I don’t blame Tamar for dancing but I would blame Dancing with the Stars if they didn’t bring Alexa back now.
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Alexa was one of the Best Dancers on the Show
Maybe I would feel less strongly about this if it was someone like Alek who was eliminated. Alek seems like a nice guy and is a bonafide hero but he is terrible dancer. Alexa is both a likable personality and a terrific dancer. This season of Dancing with the Stars is Bindi’s to lose but Alexa leaving this soon was a pretty shocking development. She should be given the chance to dance again, especially after she got two perfect scores on her final night.
There is also the practical reason that Dancing with the Stars probably needs to fill a spot. One less dancer means one less episode, unless Dancing with the Stars changes things up with a final two instead of three this year. That doesn’t seem likely, the final three adds more tension and time. Dancing with the Stars isn’t a humongous hit but it is still reasonably large for ABC. They need another dancer if they want to keep up their usual episode order. Or give all the dancers a safe week. Not to mention there would probably be a ratings spike if they would bring Alexa after all this news with Tamar.
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What About “The Rules”?
I do understand the counter argument though that follows the rules. Alexa was eliminated fair and square. It might have been shocking but there is nothing fishy about her leaving Dancing with the Stars. She didn’t get the votes to stay and Tamar did. If Dancing with the Stars was going to eliminate Tamar for breaking “the rules” and not being able to show up shouldn’t they follow them for Alexa?
But what do you think? Should Alexa come back to Dancing with the Stars? Is it unfair to Tamar to replace her? Do you want Alexa to come back or would you rather another dancer return? Do you think Dancing with the Stars will even fill Tamar’s spot?
Dancing with the Stars season 21 airs at 8pm on ABC.
(Image courtesy of ABC)
Contributing Writer, BuddyTV
Derek is a Philadelphia based writer and unabashed TV and comic book junkie. The time he doesn’t spend over analyzing all things nerdy he is working on his resume to be the liaison to the Justice League.
